# I'm going to 1998, how do I bring money? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 28, 2010, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-1998-how-do-i-bring-money/537655 "2010-04-28T19:04:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2010, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-1998-how-do-i-bring-money/537655/1 "2010-04-28T19:04:34Z")
So I figured for our honeymoon, it might be fun to break with expected tradition and instead of going someplace far away, we decided to take a road trip to 1998. But there is a dilemma, hotels and campgrounds don’t take reservations from the future because they can’t get the credit card authorization thingy to accept our cards (what with our joint account not existing for another decade and all). So I figure we should just bring a lot of cash. Would there still be enough cash around that was printed in 1998 or earlier for us to be able to pay for gas and campgrounds? I tried finding a currency exchange kiosk that can accommodate us, but they don’t have any here that deal with inter-timeline currency. We don’t want anyone thinking our 2004 currency is counterfeit. What do we do? ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2010, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-1998-how-do-i-bring-money/537655/2 "2010-04-28T19:11:30Z")
Take the motherboard out of a current Mac and take it to sell to Apple in the past. They’re going to invent it anyway. ---
**Author:** ![skearton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@skearton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skearton)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2010, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-1998-how-do-i-bring-money/537655/3 "2010-04-28T19:16:53Z")
Good one! lol ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2010, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-1998-how-do-i-bring-money/537655/4 "2010-04-28T19:17:30Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Take the motherboard out of a current Mac and take it to sell to Apple in the past. They’re going to invent it anyway. Our guidebook says we’re not allowed to fiddle with history. Maybe that’s changed in the newer edition, but in the meantime we’re still aiming for “leave no trace” time hiking. Our friend is lending us his 1996 Mazda Protege. So we should fit in seamlessly. We’re just worried about how to pay for everything. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2010, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-1998-how-do-i-bring-money/537655/5 "2010-04-28T19:22:30Z")
Buy some pre-1998 currency on eBay or from coin and note dealer. Try to buy the stuff that’s selling as little as possible above face value. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2010, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-1998-how-do-i-bring-money/537655/6 "2010-04-28T19:23:31Z")
If you deposit a million dollars in the bank today, thanks to the miracle of compound interest, back in 1998, you should have maybe a few thousand ready for your use. ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2010, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-1998-how-do-i-bring-money/537655/7 "2010-04-28T19:26:07Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > Buy some pre-1998 currency on eBay or from coin and note dealer. Try to buy the stuff that’s selling as little as possible above face value. Hey, that’s a great idea! You’re right though, the exchange rate could be a bit bitchy. Especially if the notes are in good shape. ---
**Author:** ![Alpha\_Twit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpha_twit/32/265_2.png) [@Alpha\_Twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha_Twit)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2010, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-1998-how-do-i-bring-money/537655/8 "2010-04-28T19:28:55Z")
Buy anything silver or gold you can get your hands on. Not coinage though, get something without a date mark on it. Once you get there, head for the nearest pawn shop. I don’t know the precious metal price from '98 but don’t be surprised if you get hosed pretty badly. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2010, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-1998-how-do-i-bring-money/537655/9 "2010-04-28T19:39:36Z")
Barter. Just bring a suitcase full of Furbies and Ricky Martin CDs and you’ll be able to trade for anything you want. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2010, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-1998-how-do-i-bring-money/537655/10 "2010-04-28T19:43:43Z")
> [@Alpha\_Twit](#): > > Buy anything silver or gold you can get your hands on. That was going to be my suggestion - why not just buy some gold bullion? Gold is timeless currency. ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2010, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-1998-how-do-i-bring-money/537655/11 "2010-04-28T19:45:11Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > That was going to be my suggestion - why not just buy some gold bullion? Gold is timeless currency. Is it easy to switch back to cash? Where do I buy it? ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2010, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-1998-how-do-i-bring-money/537655/12 "2010-04-28T19:47:34Z")
> [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](#): > > Is it easy to switch back to cash? Where do I buy it? Try [here](http://www.monex.com/prods/gold.html). You shouldn’t have any problems finding a gold trader who will buy it from you in 1998. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2010, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-1998-how-do-i-bring-money/537655/13 "2010-04-28T19:49:04Z")
> [@A Monkey With a Gun](#): > > Barter. Just bring a suitcase full of Furbies and Ricky Martin CDs and you’ll be able to trade for anything you want. Beanie Babies, man, Beanie Babies! ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2010, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-1998-how-do-i-bring-money/537655/14 "2010-04-28T19:51:50Z")
Buy crateloads of Nintendo 64 games that were released in 1998, then head to FuncoLand when you reach 1998 and sell them. ---
**Author:** ![Engineer\_Dude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9fc29f/32.png) [@Engineer\_Dude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Engineer_Dude)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2010, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-1998-how-do-i-bring-money/537655/15 "2010-04-28T20:02:17Z")
> [@bup](#): > > Buy crateloads of Nintendo 64 games that were released in 1998, then head to FuncoLand when you reach 1998 and sell them. Or buy some of the first DVDs, such as Twister (sealed). ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2010, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-1998-how-do-i-bring-money/537655/16 "2010-04-28T20:03:36Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > Try [here](http://www.monex.com/prods/gold.html). You shouldn’t have any problems finding a gold trader who will buy it from you in 1998. ☹ They’re all stamped with “authenticity marks”. I bet I’ll have problems with them unless I can get some that pre-date 1998, and they may be unusual enough that it’ll be easy to find the same one _in_ 1998, so there may be questions. Beanie Babies may work out better, but I don’t want to ahve to worry about finding buyers when I’m on my honeymoon. So really, are there enough 1998 bills around still today? Even for just a $500 dollar road trip? We can rough it to keep our budget low. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2010, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-1998-how-do-i-bring-money/537655/17 "2010-04-28T20:25:20Z")
It’ll be hard to find 12-year old bills, since the life expectancy of a bill is only a few years (18 months for $1.) But you could load up on coins. I’ll bet if you buy a thousand dollars worth of quarters, you’d end up with a couple of hundred in pre-'98 coins. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2010, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-1998-how-do-i-bring-money/537655/18 "2010-04-28T20:28:03Z")
Quarters. Lots and lots of quarters. Just go to the bank and get five grand worth of quarter rolls, and then sort through and pick out all the pre-1998 ones. Then you take them back in time, roll them back up and change them at the nearest bank. Edit: Goddamn you, **Skammer**!! ---
**Author:** ![qubed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f07891/32.png) [@qubed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qubed)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2010, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-1998-how-do-i-bring-money/537655/19 "2010-04-28T20:33:14Z")
There’s a lot of old $100 bills floating around outside the US. Just take a trip somewhere and exchange your new, crisp $100 bills for old, worn $100 bills and you should be all set. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotGrrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9dc877/32.png) [@PatriotGrrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotGrrrl)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2010, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-1998-how-do-i-bring-money/537655/20 "2010-04-28T20:35:52Z")
You can buy sacks (literally) of silver coins, like the old half dollars. They were (and presumably still are) a common thing to buy and sell as an investment. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-1998-how-do-i-bring-money/537655.md?page=2)